National camp for Pak series starts tomorrow
The national selection committee called up fifteen cricketers including injured paceman Mashrafe Bin Mortaza to attend a training camp that has been arranged ahead of the coming home series against Pakistan.
The training camp will be held in Chittagong from November 18 to November 24.
“There has been no indication about the final squad for the coming home series against Pakistan. We selected some players because we felt they need fitness training while ignoring some as we felt they need match practice, and you know some of our players are now touring with the Bangladesh A team in the West Indies. So we will decide on the final team after this camp,” explained chief selector Akram Khan.
All-rounder Nasir Hossain, Shuvagoto Hom, Rokibul Hasan and Sohrawardi Shuvo are now touring with the A team in West Indies. Nasir will return home after playing the first T20 match against West Indies A on November 18. “Nasir will return home early as we felt that he needs rest. He played enough cricket over the last few months,” said Akram.
Pace spearhead Mashrafe was included as part of his rehabilitation programme. “Our national physio (Vibhav Singh) requested his (Mashrafe Bin Mortaza) inclusion for the camp. Mashrafe is likely to be available for selection in January next year,” informed Akram.
The good news is that Shafiul Islam returned to the camp, the right-arm paceman fully recovered from his injury. Shahadat Hossain was also in the list though he put up a very frustrating performance against West Indies during the last home series.
“It’s good news that Shafiul is fully fit now. But we are really worried with the form of opener Imrul Kayes. The opening spot is an area at which we should take a long look,” said Akram.
The chief selector said that it will be a tough series for the Tigers as Pakistan are now in good touch.
“Pakistan is now in good form. It will be a tough series for the boys and I hope they are very much aware of the fact,” warned the former national skipper.
Pakistan will arrive in Dhaka on November 26 to play a T20 international, three one-day internationals and a two-match Test series against the Tigers.
The selected players for the training camp are Imrul Kayes, Tamim Iqbal, Mushfiqur Rahim, Shakib Al Hasan, Mahmudullah Riyad, Alok Kapali, Naeem Islam, Abdur Razzak, Rubel Hossain, Shafiul Islam, Nazmul Hossain, Shahriar Nafees, Shahadat Hossain, Elias Sunny and Mashrafe Bin Mortaza.
-With The Daily Star input
